Ambulatory amusement and exercising device



Sept. 27, 1966 c. A. ROST AMBULATORY AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Aug. '7, 1964 INVENTOR.

BY a k J24? Clarence AIRosi United States Patent Ofitice Patented Sept. 27, 1966 This invention relates to amusement and exercising devices.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a stilt-like device which may be mounted by the operator who thereupon by appropriate body manipulations can advance, retreat, or turn in a manner which is entertaining and which at the same time provides wholesome exercise.

It is another object of the invention to provide a walking device which may be used competitively as a game, particularly by children.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a stilt-like walking device which may be mounted by the operator relatively easily and which adjusts itself to the terrain so that the operator can maintain his equilibrium over long periods of time.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a stilt-like walking device which may be used indoors Without damaging rugs or floors.

In essence, the ambulatory amusement and exercising device of my invention comprises an elongated stem or standard of sufiicient strength to support a person when arranged in a vertical use position. The upper portion of the stem provides a handle adapted to be grasped by the operator.

A cross piece is secured to the bottom portion of the stem. The upper surface of the cross piece carries, or is formed with, a pair of foot rests, one on each side of the stem. The under surface of the cross piece mounts -a pair of feet, preferably swiveling feet, one on each side of the stem.

It thus is possible for a person to mount the device, placing one foot on each foot rest, then by an appropriate sequence of body manipulations to walk the device forwardly or backwardly from one place to another in an entertaining and beneficial manner.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views in front and side elevation, respectively, of the herein described ambulatory amusement and exercising device in a first embodiment;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detail fragmentary, sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 44 respectively of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the ambulatory exercising device of my invention in a second embodiment; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views in front and side elevation, respectively, of the presently described ambulatory amusement exercising device in still a third embodiment.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the device of my invention includes a stem or standard 10 which may be made of wood, metal or other suitable structural material of sufficient size and strength to support a person. The stem is bent centrally so that the upper portion, which serves as a handle, inclines from the vertical, and away from the operator, at an angle (a) of from 5-25 This makes it easier for the operator to grasp the handle portion of the stem and to maintain his equilibrium.

Secured to the lower portion of the stem is a cross piece 12 which comprises a length of lumber arranged edgewise and provided with a central, vertical opening dimensioned to receive the lower portion of the stem. Bolts 14 penetrate the side walls of the cross piece and the lower portion of the stem to secure the cross piece in place.

The upper, outer marginal portions of the cross piece 12 are cut away to provide foot rests 16, one on each side of the stem.

The lower, central margin also is cut away to provide foot support sections 18, one on each side of the stem.

The foot support sections mount swiveling feet indicated generally at 20, and illustrated in detail in FIG. 4.

These serve the dual functions of providing a flat base at any angle of use and on any type of support surface, thus cooperating with the angled handle in preserving the equilibrium of the operator. They also serve the secondary but important function of preventing damage 10 floors and rugs on which the device may be used.

As shown in FIG. 4, the foot-supporting portions 18 of cross piece 12 are provided with vertical bores 22. Each of .these receives the base 24 of foot 20 in frictional engagement.

The end wall of base 24 is formed with a centrally perforated socket 26 which receives in universal joint relation the rounded ball portion 28 of a flat foot member 30.

The center of ball portion 28 has an opening 32 in which works the stem of a specially designed rivet 34 by means of which foot 30 is swiveled to base 24.

Alternate designs of swiveling foot members obviously may be employed. For example, base 24 may be of substantially larger diameter and employed as a cap piece over the end of foot-mounting 18 ratherthan as an insert member to be inserted in an opening therein.

To increase the interest and excitement attending the use of the herein described device, there may be provided one or a plurality of cross piece segments 40 adapted to be superimposed one upon the other and upon cross piece 12 to build a composite cross piece of selected height upon which the operator stands.

Cross piece segments 40 may be identical in construction. Each consists of a length of lumber of the same length as cross piece 12, arranged edgewise and centrally perforated to accommodate the lower portion of stem 10.

The upper outer margin of each cross piece segment 40 is cut away to form foot rests 42 analogous to foot rests 16 on cross piece 12.

Suitable means such as pin and socket means are provided for fastening the cross piece segments to each other. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, there may be provided sockets 44 in one of the members and pins 46 in the other, the latter being inserta-ble in the former when the segments are stacked one on the other in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus any desired operating level may be obtained.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 is similar .to that illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 with the exception that the desired operating inclination of the stem is achieved by biasing the feet with respect to the foot rest, rather than by curving the handle.

Thus in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the stem comprises a straight structural member 50 of suitable height. Secured to the bottom of the stem is a cross piece 52 com-prising a length of lumber arranged edgewise with a central opening adapted to receive and mount the lower end of stem 50. Foot rest notches 54 are cut out of the upper end margins of the cross piece.

The vertical plane of cross piece 52 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of stem 50. However, .to secure the desired inclination, the assembly is provided with swiveling feet 56, which may be identical in construction with feet 20 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, but which are angled with respect to .the cross piece, so that an angle (a') of from 5-25 is present between the vertical plane of the feet and that of stem. The net result is the same as that afforded by the bent stem of the previously described form of the invention, namely to increase the ease with which the operator can operate the device and maintain his balance on it.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is particularly adapted to construction from metal pipe. It includes a vertical stem or standard 60 oeutrally bent to provide an angle appropriate for easy operation. The upper section of the stem, however, is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 62 and with a telescoping handle section 64 provided with registering openings 66, to adjust the height of the handle to that of the operator. Selected ones of openings 62, 66 may be placed in registration with each other and the handle secured by means of bolt 68.

The lower portion of stem 60 is fitted with a cross member formed in two sections, each being indicated generally by the numeral 70. Each cross piece section is formed with a vertical top segment 72,a substantially horizontal central segment 74 formed with outer foot rest portions, and a vertical lower segment 76.

The two cross piece sections are'coupled rigidly to the lower end of stem 60 by means of bolts 78.

The lower ends of vertical section 76 of the cross piece segments are provided with feet 80 which preferably are swiveling feet similar to feet 20 described above.

In the operation and use of the device of the invention, the operator places the device in front of him, with the stern angled outwardly, pointing away from his body. He then stands on the foot rest portions of the cross pieces and, by suitably shifting his weight, is able to execute a variety of maneuvers moving forwardly, backwardly or in a circle and in any desired rhythm of steps.

There thus is provided a novel amusement and exercising device, which may be used either indoors or outdoors, on ground which is either rough or smooth, individually or competitively with others.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ambulatory amusement and exercising device comprising (a) an elongated stem of sufiicient strength to support a person when arranged in its vertical use position, the upper portion of the stem providing a hand p.

(b) across piece,

(-c) securing means for securing lower portion of the stem,

(d) foot rest means on top of the cross piece, one

on each sideof the stem,

(e) and foot means on the bottom of the cross piece,

one on each side of the stern,

(f) the foot rest means and foot means being disposed in a common transverse plane and the hand: grip portion of the stem being disposed angularly forward with respect to said plane and with respect to an operator standing on the foot rest means wherein the one foot means on each side of the stem are the only engaging means between the device and the surfaces on which it is used.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cross pieceha's a central opening transversely therethrough dimensioned to receive the lower portion of the stem, and wherein the securing means comprise bolt means interengaging 119 stem and the cross piece.

the cross piece to the 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the cross piece comprises a piece of lumber arranged edgewise with the outer top margins cut away to provide the foot rest means.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the cross piece is segmental, comprising a plurality of pieces of lumber each having a central transverse opening therethrough dimensioned to receive the lower portion of the stem, the segments of the cross piece being superimposed on each other to form a composite cross piece of predetermined height.

5. The device of claim 4 including pin and socket means releasably interengaging the segments of the cross piece when superimposed upon each" other.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cross piece is formed in two cooperating sections, both including vertical upper sections bolted to each other and to the lower end of the stem, substantially horizontal central sections formed with foot rest portions and substantially vertical lower end sections connected to the foot means.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the stem is formed of two elegonated sections and including pin means for securing the sections together at selected intervals of vertical adjustment.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein each foot means comprises a base, means for fastening the base to the bottom of the cross piece, a foot member adapted to rest flat on the ground, and swivel inter-connecting means interconnecting the base and the foot member for providing limited relative universal movement therebetween.

9. An ambulatory amusement exercising device comprising (a) an elongated stem of sufficient strength to support a person when arranged in its vertical use position,

the upper portion of the stern providing a hand p,

(b) a composite cross piece consisting of two seg ments,

(c) each segment having a top vertically arranged section, an intermediate substantially horizontal section formed with a foot rest portion, and a lower vertically arranged section projecting downward 1 fromthe outer end of the intermediate section,

(d) securing means for securing together the top vertically arranged sections and the lower end of the stem,

(e) swiveling foot means,

(f) and mounting means for mounting the foot means one on the bottom of each of the lower sections of the cross piece segments,

(g) the, foot rest portions and foot means being disposed in a common transverse plane and the hand grip portion of the stem being disposed angularly forward with respect to said plane and with respect to an operator standing on the foot rest portions wherein the one foot means on the bottom of each of the lower sections of the cross piece segments -are :the only engaging means between the device and the surface on which it is used.

' FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1961 Australia. 561,895 8/ 1958 Canada. 189,071 11/ 1922 Great Britain.

RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AMBULATORY AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATED STEM OF SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO SUPPORT A PERSON WHEN ARRANGED IN ITS VERTICAL USE POSITION, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STEM PROVIDING A HAND GRIP, (B) A CROSS PIECE, (C) SECURING MEANS FOR SECURING THE CROSS PIECE TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE STEM, (D) FOOT REST MEANS ON TOP OF THE CROSS PIECE, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE STEM, (E) AND FOOT MEANS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CROSS PIECE, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE STEM, (F) THE FOOT REST MEANS AND FOOT MEANS BEING DISPOSED IN A COMMON TRANSVERSE PLANE AND THE HAND GRIP PORTION OF THE STEM BEING DISPOSED ANGULARLY FORWARD WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLANE AND WITH RESPECT TO AN OPERATOR STANDING ON THE FOOT REST MEANS WHEREIN THE ONE FOOT MEANS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STEM ARE THE ONLY ENGAGING MEANS BETWEEN THE DEVICE AND THE SURFACES ON WHICH IT IS USED. 